One weekend, 6 murders. It's a sad and staggering toll of death from the weekend - and the victims range in age from 3 to 56 years old.
But, the common thread is explosive violence and, in at least four of the deaths, it was a caused by vengeance.
That was the case with a double murder in Belize City, where 2 family men were shot and killed while they were playing dominoes with friends in an area that is near to gang turf. They were innocently caught in the crosshairs of a raging gang war:
Daniel Ortiz has that story:
Saturday night's shooting on Church Street led to the death of two beloved fathers: 51-year-old Raymond Garcia, and 56-year-old Wayne Peteau, aka "Wayne Crawford".
Natividad "Rita" Garcia - Mother of Raymond Garcia
"He and I raised his son. his first son, the mother of his son - she had abandoned the baby from when he was young. He decided to hold the mantle and take care of the baby."
Reporter
"How many kids did you guys have, if any?"
Voice of: Sonya Jones - Common-law Wife of Wayne Peteau
"Well, he has 5 in all. He has 2 that he raised with me, that's why I know the good in him. He was there when I was in need of him. And I have 3 with him."
Both of these men began to socialize in this area on Church Street due to their mutual love for dominoes.
Natividad "Rita" Garcia
"He's a domino player. He usually goes and plays tournaments out-district. He loves dominoes. So, that area is where he and the guys with who he is friends. He has been there for many years. From work, he goes there, and mostly on the weekends, he's out there, playing dominoes right across the street from his friend's house."
Voice of: Sonya Jones
"That's where he hangs, and from what I've known him, that's where he always is. Every time, I'm going to Valdez. He loved that spot."
But while both men felt comfortable socializing at this location, it's on the border of dangerous gang turf. It is believed that they were innocently killed in a gang-related attack by gunmen who pulled up on a motorcycle. The intended targets were reportedly not in the area at the time, but that didn't matter to the shooters, who opened fire on the group of people sitting at the dominoes table.
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero - Deputy Head, NCIB
"Investigation revealed that these persons were socializing in that area when a motorcycle arrived with 2 persons, who fired shots toward the building causing injuries to these persons."
Reporter
"Is this in any way tied to the previous incident of Thursday evening, where Mr. Tillett lost his life?"
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero
"We are looking at that. We are receiving several leads."
Reporter
"Is it a fact that one of the members of George Street Gang, his father, was known to socialize at this location as well?"
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero
"Yes, that's the information we gathered, yes that he used to go there and socialize."
Reporter
"But, was he among the persons shot?"
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero
"No, he was not there. no."
Garcia's mother told us today he stopped visiting that area to play dominoes for an extended period in the recent past. That's after another deadly shooting happened at the same location.
Natividad "Rita" Garcia - Mother of Raymond Garcia
"So, I told him, 'Wolf, don't go back there. I said, keep away from around there because that area is hot. I know you love your game, but try to turn around your life, and try to stay home with your son."
"He said, 'Ooh, I keep away from around there.' So, I don't know lately at what time he started revisiting the area and sit out there and play dominoes.'
And now, these families must pick up the pieces and try to move on without the loved ones they lost in this double murder.
Voice of: Sonya Jones
"He had a good personality, always ran jokes. You could never find that someone will come and say, Oh Wayne… no, no, no. He wasn't a bad person. He was a good man."
Natividad "Rita" Garcia
"I believe in the God of Isaac, Abraham, and Jacob. That God is the God of love, the God of Mercy, the compassionate God, and the God that is slow to anger. And I say, you know, justice is for God. Justice or Vengeance is for God."
2 other men who were injured in this shooting: 56-year-old Gilbert Moss and 51-year-old Solomon Alvarez were also playing dominoes with the 2 victims when the gunmen opened fire on the group. Their injuries were not life threatening.
